John Adams to John Quincy Adams

[dateline] Grosvenor Square Jan 10. 1787

[salute] My dear Son

I am much obliged to you for the Copy of your Dialogue, which does you honour. I am
the more pleased to learn that you are to col• { 429 } lect the Mathematical Theses, as the Same part fell to my Share in the Year 1755.1

Your Reasons for preferring Newbury Port to Boston for the Study of the Law are judicious,
and discover an Attention and a Consideration, which give sure Presages of your future
Success. You must take Some opportunity to pay your Respects to Mr Parsons, and know
his Terms; or pray Dr Tufts to write to him. It will be of great Importance, to your
happiness to get into his Family, to board, if that be possible. But if it is not,
you must pay a particular Attention to this point, in the Choice of a Situation and
a Family to board in. I am very happy to hear that your Brother Thomas, behaves as
well as his elder Brothers, and that all three are irreproachable. May you all continue,
in a virtuous Course, and be happy. You must all attend to your health. All depends
upon that. I found it difficult to persuade you, while in Europe, to take your fresh
Air, and active Exercise regularly.

When you come into a Lawyers office, you will find it more necessary Still. At present,
Attendance on Prayers, Recitations and public Exhibitions, and the Amusements of Conversation
with your fellow Students, are instead of Exercise. But when you come to pore alone
over Law, which is not very entertaining, you will find a difference.

But at all times and in all Places, above all Things, preserve the Sentiments and
the delicate sensibilities of youth, throughout your whole Life. Honour and Integrity,
Humanity and Modesty are natural to Man. Let not the Commerce of the World, ever wear
them out or blunt the Edge of your sensibility of them.

Libertatem, Amicitiam, Fidem, praecipua humani animi bona, retinebis. According to
your Friend Tacitus.2 Riches and Grandeur are empty Baubles: but the moral Sentiments must be your Companions
every hour of your Life: and infallibly your constant Comforters, or Tormentors. Consult
your own heart, consult Experience, and History and they will all concur, with this
Advice of your affectionate Father

1. For JQA's mathematical theses, part of the Harvard commencement exercises for 1787, see his
Diary, 2:xii, 82–83, 256–257 (illustration). While JA left no record of his own mathematical theses for the 1755 Harvard commencement,
he did record several mathematical exercises in his Diary; in his Autobiography, he
further recalled his strong interest and ability in mathematics while at Harvard and
his delight in teaching JQA mathematics in France in 1784 (D&A, 1:32, 107–108
, 126–127|| (entries for 28 and 29 May 1760)||, 177–178; 3:260, 262).

2. A paraphrase of Tacitus, Histories, Book 1.15, lines 22–24: You will hold liberty, friendship, and fidelity as the highest
goods of the human soul.

Docno: ADMS-04-07-02-0170

Author: Cranch, Mary Smith

Recipient: Adams, Abigail

Date: 1787-01-10

Mary Smith Cranch to Abigail Adams

[dateline] Braintree January 10th 1787

[salute] My dear Sister

I have sent one Letter on Board callahan,1 but hope he has not yet sail'd, as I have much to say that I was oblig'd to omit
then for want of time. Betsy has written to you also. By her Letter you will see the
State of her mind better than by any thing I can Say, but I am Sure you will wonder
how such a change in her affections took place. You may remember what I mention'd
to you before you went from us. She then thought that Friendship and gratitude was
all she could possible return him, but His absence soon became painful. She wanted
the company of the Friend who had Study'd her Temper and disposition, and who never
appear'd happier than when he could amuse or entertain her. She look'd around her,
and say many who's manners were more polish'd than her Freinds, but none whos principles
were better, morals purer, or heart more sincere. He was incountering dangers and
difficulties to acqure a fortune without which he could not with propriety ask a return
of her affections. In this part of the country he saw no prospect of gaining one suddenly,
he therefore left it and was seeking it in a wilderness surrounded by Savages. It
was a long time before She heard from him. So long that we thought he must have fallen
a sacrifice to Savage brutality as many other Travellers had done about that time.
This awakend all her tender Passions and distress'd her greatly. She felt altho innocent
as if she was the cause of his Death. I did not know till this time that She had any
attachment to him. She was soon reliev'd by receiving a very long Letter from him.
We receiv'd others the past summer by which he appear'd to be in very good business
and it is probable in a few years would have made a pretty fortune.2 As soon as he had acquir'd Sufficient to set him above want he design'd to return
and spend it with his Friends, “The thought of this (he says in a Letter to her) was
almost the only thing that made life desirable to him.” But heaven has seen it to
be best that he should be cut off in the midst of his fondest hopes, and most pleasing
prospect. His will be done is all we ought to say. “It is right, surpport me heaven”
was all She did say, but her countinance distress'd me greatly, it was calm but solemn.
She has recover'd her spirits much but the wound will not be soon heal'd. He was sick
but a few days { 431 } was not thought dangirous till the evening before he expir'd he then lost his reason
and did not recover it again. The gentleman who Sent us an account of his death says,
“He was greatly belov'd and esteem while Living and almost unversally lamented now
dead.”

[dateline] Janu 12th

I yesterday reciev'd your Trunk and shall deliver the things as directed. Betsy and
Lucy are greatly oblig'd for their silks. They are very good and very pretty. The
Stockings are such as I wish'd, the price is I suppose Sterling. I shall give you
credit accordingly. The pieces of cousin JQAs coats are well pattern'd. The remnant
of course Linnin is come also. The suit of Cloathes of mr Adams will not do for your
eldest son the Shirts and the coat are so short for the present Fashon that he will
not have it I am sure. He would have had a Blue velvet of his Papas this winter if
it had not been for this difficulty. They must be lay'd by till long wasts and short
shirts are the mode. He is in no want of any new ones at present, he wears a coat
very little. I think he will not want any stockings this summer. As to their Linnin,
the children will make it. The two youngest grow so fast that before a measure could
reach you it would not fit them. Thomas will soon out run Charles in height, and is
no spindle shanks I assure you. He is the best shape'd of the Family. Such Cambrick
as you have sent cannot be purchas'd here under 16/ Lawful. I shall this afternoon
carry your mother Hall her Gown and the calico for the children, they will be highly
gratified. Mrs Hall injoys fine health for one of her years. She is grown quite Fleshy.
She din'd and spent the day with me and her grandchildren here about a week since.
I sent our Sleigh for her. It look'd so much like what you use'd to do, that it afforded
me and her I believe more pleasure than if she had made me a visit of her own motion.
I told her What you said about her caps and offer'd to make some for her. I will send
you a pattern, but will make some in the meantime out of some of the pieces which
may be left of Cousin Charles Linnen, she will not want many.

I do not think of any thing your sons want which we cannot get here. I wish to know
the price of those silk Hankercheifs, and what you can buy good mode for,3 mode which will do to make cardinals of and what colour is most commonly worn by
young Ladies. I do not mean little misses. I should be glad of a Pattern to cut them
by, our children must have new ones soon and I wish to know if I can get them cheaper
with you than here. Cushing is not arriv'd. I wrote { 432 } you some time since that mr William White, a merchant in Boston sent you the chocalate.
He partly own'd the vessel. Mr Cranch went to put Some on boar'd but the capn. would
not take it. Said he had enough already. After this mr White told me what he had done.
Winslow W. is at home again. I know not how he was releas'd. I have not Seen the Family
this winter.

Your youngest son designs to be a Farmer he told me the other day he may change his
mind, but at present he seems determin'd.